Australia’s whaling case against Japan begins in the International Court of Justice today

On 31 May 2010, Australia instituted proceedings against Japan, alleging that “Japan’s continued pursuit of a large-scale program of whaling under the Second Phase of its Japanese Whale Research Program under Special Permit in the Antarctic („JARPA II‟) is in breach of obligations assumed by Japan under the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling („ICRW‟), as well as its other international obligations for the preservation of marine mammals and the marine environment”.

At the end of its application, Australia requested the Court, inter alia, to order that Japan:

“ (a) cease implementation of JARPA II;

(b) revoke any authorisations, permits or licences allowing the activities which are the subject of this application to be undertaken;

and

(c) provide assurances and guarantees that it will not take any further action under the JARPA II or any similar program until such program has been brought into conformity with its obligations under international law.”

The Court will hold public hearings in the case concerning Whaling in the Antarctic (Australia v. Japan: New Zealand intervening) from Wednesday 26 June to Tuesday 16 July 2013, at the Peace Palace in The Hague, the seat of the Court.

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